Four clubs from four different countries are now just two matches away from the Men’s Euro Cup final, with the first legs of the semi-finals scheduled for Thursday 3 April.
In Croatia, HAVK Mladost welcome Serbia’s SPD Radnicki, while in Italy, Pro Recco host Spain’s KEIO CN Sabadell. The two-legged ties will determine who reaches the final of Europe’s second-tier competition—though there is no shortage of pedigree or ambition among these sides.
Men’s Euro Cup Semi-Finals – First Legs
Thursday 3 April 2025
(All start times local)
- 19:30 – HAVK Mladost (CRO) vs SPD Radnicki (SRB)
- 21:00 – Pro Recco (ITA) vs KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP)
Mladost v Radnicki: Familiar foes meet again
Mladost and Radnicki are no strangers to each other this season. Thursday’s clash in Zagreb will be the fourth meeting between the two teams in 2024–25. Radnicki won all three of the previous encounters, including a dramatic 14-14 draw in January that ended with a shootout victory for the Serbians.
Radnicki enter the semi-finals fresh from lifting the Regional League title. In the previous round, they held Brescia to a 9-9 draw in Italy before a confident 14-10 win in Kragujevac saw them progress. Croatian side Mladost, meanwhile, edged past PVK Jadran Herceg Novi on aggregate, holding on despite a 9-6 second-leg defeat in Montenegro.
Radnicki head coach Uroš Stevanović is respectful of Mladost’s history and quality.
“They are one of the most decorated clubs in water polo,” he told European Aquatics. “Their team is full of Croatian national players who have left a mark on world water polo, and it will be very difficult to stop the likes of Vrlić, Kharkov, Bukić and Vukičević.”
Mladost’s Andrija Bašić is hopeful that home support can give his side an edge in the first leg.
“Our fans will be the wind at our backs, and we’ll give everything to make them proud,” he said. “This is a semi-final—there is no room for mistakes. We believe in our work and know we can achieve a big result.”
Pro Recco v Sabadell: European heavyweights on a collision course
In the later fixture, Pro Recco begin their bid for a first-ever Euro Cup title at home against KEIO CN Sabadell.
The Italian champions have eased through the knockout rounds so far, sweeping aside Vasas Plaket 25-16 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Recco also remain unbeaten in Serie A1, most recently dispatching Roma Visnova and Posillipo.
Despite their strong form, head coach Sandro Sukno is under no illusions about the threat posed by the visitors.
“Sabadell are a very well-organised team with lots of pace and two or three really skilled attackers,” he said. “We’re preparing for this match like any other. We have to be ready.”
Recco’s American attacker Jack Larsen echoed his coach’s focus.
“They’re a solid team, with good shooters and a strong goalkeeper. The key for us is to prepare properly and focus on ourselves.”
Sabadell have reached the Euro Cup semi-finals for the second year in a row. A dominant 17-9 first-leg victory over VPK Primorac Kotor helped secure their passage, despite a 14-9 loss in the return leg.
The Catalan side have fond recent memories of facing Italian opposition. In 2022, they defeated Telimar Palermo to lift the Euro Cup trophy. However, that was followed by a 16-8 defeat to Pro Recco in the LEN Super Cup—a result they will be hoping to avenge.
One player with inside knowledge of both teams is Vincenzo Renzuto, who previously played for Recco and now lines up for Sabadell.
“We know we are facing one of the best teams in the world,” he said. “But we also know we can compete. Our goal is the final.”
Looking ahead
The second legs of the semi-finals will take place on Thursday 24 April. Both ties will be broadcast live on euroaquaticstv.com.